PRACTICE NURSES
NEWSLETTER (7)
20 July 2009
GENERAL NEWS
Queensland Wound Care Association
The Queensland Wound Care Association’s Aim is to promote and increase awareness,
knowledge and application of effective wound care by:
1. establishing a network of persons with knowledge and experience in
wound care
2. providing current information resources to health care professionals
3. developing education strategies for health professionals
4. facilitating and encouraging research in wound care.
If you wish to increase your knowledge visit www.elephantintheroom.com.au or the Qld
Wound Care Association website at www.qwca.org.au. The Wide Bay contact person is
Deborah Mahony Practice Nurse, Torquay Family Practice Hervey Bay ph:4125 2422
Immigration Medicals for Visa
Dr Kerry Mckeon of the Torquay Family Practice, Hervey Bay ph:4125 2422 does the
immigration visas medicals. To my understanding he is the only one in the Wide bay
region. There will probably be a 2 month waiting time.
Violence in general practice – share your experience
The Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute (APHCRI) is researching
violence against general practice staff and its impact. AGPN is represented on the
reference group for this project which will be completed by December 2009.
A number of general practice networks have completed or have planned activities
relevant to violence. These events and activities might include the development of policy
or procedure; surveys to scope the need for the development of policy or procedure; or
training for practice staff or GPs in recognition of potentially escalating situations.
If your general practice network has been active in a project-related way, APHCRI is
interested in learning more about it. Information can be sent to:
Dagmar.Ceramidas@anu.edu.au
National Continence Week – National Continence Helpline
National Continence Week is from 2 to 8 August. The National Continence Foundation
manages the National Continence Helpline which is staffed by expert continence nurse
advisors. The National Continence Helpline freecall number is 1800 33 00 66. For fact
sheets and other informative free resources go to the Continence Foundation of
Australia website at www.continence.com.au
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ThinkGP
ThinkGP is a free online education service for GPs and other health care professionals.
Highly interactive case based modules allow you to consolidate your knowledge of a
wide range of topics in the ever changing world of general practice. CPD points are
awarded upon completion. Go to www.thinkgp.com.au
Child Health Line
Child Health Line has a new number 13HEALTH (13432584). For the cost of a local call,
parents can access child health information and parent support services 24hours a day 7
days a week. Registered nurses provide information and support on issues concerning
parents and their children. GP Links have pamphlets available for parents. If you would
like to receive the pamphlets, contact Carolyn at cwilson@gplinks.org.au.
IMMUNISATION
Swine flu
Human Swine Flu (H1N1 Influenza 09) is a totally new and different strain of flu. Most
people don’t have any pre-existing immunity to human swine flu and current flu
vaccinations cannot protect against it. Symptoms are similar to normal flu and could
include fever, cough, headache, muscle and joint pain, sore throat and runny nose and
sometimes vomiting and diarrhoea. GP Links has conducted education session on
preparing your practice for the H1N1 influenza pandemic. Those practices who were
unable to attend were sent the material resources based on the RACGP training
program. If you would like further information or access to any of the resources, visit the
GP Links Website homepage at www.gplinks.org.au
Data Logger
Remember that GP Links has 2 Data Loggers available for you to use to monitor the
effectiveness of your vaccine fridge. Just contact Carolyn at cwilson@gplinks.org.au .
Di Krenske Public Health Nurse Immunisation on leave
Di is on leave for 8 weeks. She will return mid August. Joanne Shearer, Helen Thomas
and Kathryn Barnes will cover for Di at various times over this period of leave. Please
contact reception on 49206989 to be directed to the Public Health Nurse acting in her
position.
One Day Immunisation Information Workshop
For Practice Nurses and Receptionists, Registered Nurses, Enrolled Nurses, Assistants
in Nursing, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers, Administrative and
Council staff. This one day workshop is directed towards anyone working in the field of
immunisation who is not required to have QNC endorsement. It is not suitable for
Registered Nurses seeking endorsement with the Queensland Nursing Council.
When: Wednesday 12th August, 2009 – Rockhampton
To Register contact: Rose-Marie Goudie Phone: 4920 6526, Fax: 4922 8543, Email:
rosemarie_goudie@health.qld.gov.au
Immunisation KISS Flip charts now available
An additional supply of KISS guide flipcharts are now available.
Please contact Jane Sanders, Program Coordinator - Immunisation on 3105 8300 or
jsanders@gpqld.com.au if you require any flipcharts for your practices.
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Boostrix Supplies Available
GSK Australia can confirm that Boostrix private market stock is now available. All
existing private market backorders for Boostrix are now being filled and dispatched and
further stock is available for other private market orders.
Pertussis Booster Vaccine
Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of sanofi-aventis group, now has ample supply of
its pertussis booster vaccine, Adacel (dTpa), for both the public and private markets in
Australia.
CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT
Chronic Disease Medicare Items Seminar
Way back in June GP Links held a Chronic Disease Medicare Item Number Seminar in
Hervey Bay. About 35 people attended and the evaluations indicated that the seminar
was very well received. See below photos of some of the participants.
Intellectual Disability Medicare health checks reveal hidden suffering
GPs around Australia report positive results from using the annual health assessments
of people with intellectual disability that are now covered by Medicare. Hobart GP Nick
Cooling reports often finding up to three previously untreated conditions. Melbourne GP
Bob Davis is Director of the Centre for Developmental Disability Health. Even with his
expertise, Dr Davis is finding that the new assessments are helping him to pick up
important health problems.
The takeup rate on the assessments appears to be growing as word spreads about the
practical benefits they are bringing.
GPs can claim on item 718 for an assessment in their surgery ($208.70) and item 719
($232.15) if the assessment needs to be done at the patient’s home.
For more information, see
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/pacd-intellectual-disability-
assessment
Better Choices for Asthma and Allergies Identified
A new program designed to help patients with asthma and allergies identify products that
may be better choices for their health has been gaining momentum and is now available
nationally. The ‘Sensitive Choice’ program, which is an initiative of the National Asthma
Council Australia, uses a prominent blue butterfly logo to identify products that have
been reviewed and approved by the Sensitive Choice Product Advisory Panel.
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The National Asthma Council Australia’s Sensitive Choice program has also been
adopted by the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation of New Zealand.
The Sensitive Choice register of approved products is regularly updated and expanded and
available via the website: www.sensitivechoice.com.au
Resource – Heart Age Calculator
The World Heart Federation and Unilever have announced a new online ‘heart age
calculator’. 'Heart Age' is described as ‘a new, personally motivating way of expressing
an individual’s risk of developing heart disease and stroke’ and builds on the
Framingham Risk Score which uses standard risk factors for heart disease or stroke
(such as age, weight, gender, cholesterol, blood pressure and smoking). The result
gives individuals a personal motivation for changing their behaviour to try to bring their
heart age in line with their chronological age.
Leading CVD experts have pledged their support for the tool, and the concept of 'heart
age', including Professor Pekka Puska (President of the World Heart Federation), who
commented: ‘If Heart Age can engage individuals and motivate them to change their diet
and lifestyle for the better, no matter what their level of risk, then this could be a
breakthrough in the global effort towards improved CVD prevention, saving hundreds of
thousands of lives and sparing many more the misery of heart disease and stroke.'
To read more and access the online ‘Heart Age' calculator please visit the Oxford Health
Alliance website at www.oxha.org
Educational Events
What’s on in the Wide Bay and surrounds in July/ August? Go to our website at
www.gplinks.org.au and click on “Events” for more details!
Date Topic Location
27 July Insulin & Actos Bundaberg
27 July The Future of Diabetic Footcare Brisbane
28 July Qld Wound Care Association Meeting Maryborough
30 July Motivation Challenging Thinking Towards Food & Exercise Mundubbera
3 Aug Tobacco Control Symposium Brisbane
11 Aug Practice Managers / Staff Forum Bundaberg
12 Aug Immunization Workshop 1-day Rockhampton
13-15 QWCA 2009 Biennial Wound Management Conference Brisbane
Aug
14 Aug Palliative Care CPCRE Clinical Skills Brisbane
18 Aug Practice Nurses Forum Bundaberg
21-22 PNCE Conference Cairns
Aug
GP Links and The Benchmarque Group Clinic Courses
GP Links and The Benchmarque Group are offering a suite of Nationally Accredited
Clinical Courses in Bundaberg in November 2009. Courses include:
• Wound Closure and Suturing
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
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• Performing ECGs
• Ear Irrigation
• IV Cannulation
For further information go to the GP Links Website/homepage/programs/NiGP/Education
Ausmed Conferences Pty Ltd
The following courses are programmed for Brisbane in 2009.
For more information go to www.ausmed.com.au
• Clinical Nursing Assessment Skills – 17 &18 Aug / 30 Nov & 1 Dec
• Management Troubleshooting A Practical Seminar for Middle Nurse Mgrs – 26 &
27 Aug
• Acute Coronary Syndrome 4 & 5 September
• 12 Lead ECG Advanced Analysis & Education – 11 &12 September
• Wound Management & Skin Integrity – 26 & 2 7November
Queensland Wound Care Association
QWCA 2009 Biennial Wound Management Conference Brisbane Convention and
Exhibition Centre 13-15 August 2009. To register www.qwca.org.au
PNCE Conference – North Queensland
APNA is holding another Practice Nurse Clinical Education Conference on 21&22
August 2009 in Cairns. These clinical conferences are usually interactive with smaller
hands on sessions which will help you update your skills in day-to-day practice.
To register, go to www.pnce.com.au or call 02 9422 2941
Chronic Illness Conference – in Bundaberg
Ausmed Conferences are offering a Chronic Illness Conference on 26 &27 October
2009. This conference attracts 10.5 RCNA CNE points. To register, go to
www.ausmed.com.au or call 03 9375 7311
Practice Nurse Forums
The Practice Nurse Forums provide an opportunity for Wide Bay Practice Nurses to get
together on a bi-monthly basis to enjoy an evening of education, information sharing and
networking. The Practice Nurse Forums are held at the GP Links office in Bundaberg on
Tuesdays 6pm-7.30pm. Each clinic is sent an invitation via the fax stream and via the
Practice Nurse e-mail network. The next Forum will be held on Tuesday 18 August
2009 at GP Links offices Bundaberg.
Practice Managers and Nurses from Maryborough are invited to attend the Maryborough
Chapter Meetings. The next Chapter meeting will be held on Tuesday 18 August
2009.
GEMS – Girls/Guys Employed in Medical Service
Gems is a Hervey Based group with similar networking objectives to the Practice Nurse
Forums. GEMS Get Togethers are held at a variety of Hervey Bay locations. Each clinic
is sent an invitation via the fax stream and via the GEMS e-mail network. Watch for the
flyer advertising the next GEMS event.
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Practice Nurse and GEMS E-mail Network
Practice Nurses and GEMS participants are encouraged to join their peer email network.
Information about upcoming events, useful resources, industry changes and GP Links
activities can be sent directly to you via the network. In addition, the opportunity to share
information, seek ideas or find new resources is provided through this network. To
register your details to join the Practice Nurses or GEMS Network please email;
cwilson@gplinks.org.au
Practice Nurse Vacancies
Remember we can list any staff vacancies in your practice on our website. Please
contact Carolyn Wilson on 4151 0814 or email cwilson@gplinks.org.au
Locums
Notices of GPs and other health care professionals interested in locum work in the Wide
Bay area are posted on our website at www.gplinks.org.au
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